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Christ Church and St. Saviour transferred to the City of London
Union, leaving the poorer Parishes of St. George the Martyr and St.
Mary, Newington, to constitute a new Union. It was shown that
this proposal could have no other effect than that of largely increasing
the rates of these already over-burdened Parishes. Upon these facts
becoming known a public agitation commenced, and meetings were
held at the Bermondsey Town Hall, and at the Temperance Hall,
Blackfriars Road, where resolutions in strong condemnation of the
measure were passed, calling upon the Members of Parliament for
the District to use their utmost endeavour to ensure its defeat.
The Bill came before the House of Commons for second reading
on the 22nd March, 1897, when, after a somewhat long and spirited
debate, it was thrown out by a majority of 18. On the following
night the Vestry passed a resolution thanking the Members of Parliament
and Members of the County Council, who by speech and vote
or otherwise, assisted in securing the rejection of the Bill.
As it is not improbable that a similar measure may be introduced
in a subsequent session of Parliament, the information which has
been obtained by the Vestry cannot fail to be of great use in dealing
with any such proposition.
Appointment of Overseers.
Early in the year 1895, the Vestry resolved to make
application to the Local Government Board, for power under
Section 33 of the Local Government Act, 1894, for the Vestry to
appoint its own Overseers. A letter was subsequently received from
the Board, stating that before such an order could be made the
Sections of the Local Acts under which Overseers are appointed in
this Parish would have to be repealed. The matter stood in abeyance
for some little time, but on the 1st December, 1896, the Vestry
passed a resolution applying to the Local Government Board for
the alteration or repeal of the portions of the Local Acts as to the
appointment of Overseers. This resolution was confirmed at the
ensuing meeting of the Authority, and forwarded to the Local Government
Board. On the 10th February, 1897, Mr. H. Lockwood, one
of the Inspectors of the Board, held a Local Enquiry at the Vestry
Hall, in reference to the application. Several ratepayers appeared
in opposition to the proposal, but there is every hope that an order
will shortly be issued in the terms of the application.